Question

The electron configuration of Cu is

Select one:
a. 1S² 2² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s1
b. 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3S² 3p⁶ 4S² 3d⁹
C. 1s² 2S² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4S¹ 3D¹⁰
d. 1S² 2S² 2P⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁹4s²

Answer 1

The electron configuration of Cu is 1s² 2² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s1. Copper is an exception to the regular electron configuration pattern due to its stability gained by having a full or half-full d sublevel.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electron configuration of Cu is 1s² 2² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s1. Copper (Cu) is an exception to the regular electron configuration pattern because it has an electron in its 3d sublevel before its 4s sublevel is completely filled. This is due to the stability gained by having a full or half-full d sublevel. Therefore, the correct option is a. 1s² 2² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s1.

Answer 2

The correct electron configuration of a neutral copper atom is [Ar]3d¹⁰ 4s¹, which is an option (c) in the given choices.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electron configuration of Cu (copper) is a topic typically covered in high school chemistry. Copper is an exception to the expected order of electron filling. Normally, the 4s sublevel is filled before the 3d, but for copper, the more stable configuration has one electron in the 4s sublevel and ten electrons in the 3d sublevel. Therefore, the correct electron configuration for a neutral copper atom is [Ar]3d¹⁰ 4s¹, corresponding to option (c): 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s¹ 3d¹⁰. When copper forms a Cu²+ ion, it loses two electrons, specifically the one from the 4s sublevel and one from the 3d sublevel, resulting in the configuration 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁹.